NEWS RELEASE

DEFIANCE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

MONDAY, JANUARY 14, 2013

 

The Board of Defiance County Commissioners met in regular session at 8:30 a.m. on Monday, January 14, 2013 in the Conference Room in the Commissioners Office at 500 Court Street, Suite A, Defiance, Ohio 43512.  Clerk Stephanie Metz called the meeting to order.  Also present were Commissioners James E. Harris, Jr., Otto L. Nicely and Thomas L. Kime, and Laura Howell, Administrator. 

 

The Commissioners held their reorganization meeting.  The 2013 Chairman is Otto L. Nicely, Vice-Chairman is James E. Harris, Jr..  The Commissioners’ regular meetings will be held on Monday from 8:30 a.m. until the conclusion of business and on Thursday from 8:30 a.m. until the conclusion of business.  With the exception on the first Thursday of each month, all regular meetings shall be held in the office of the Defiance County Commissioners, 500 Court Street, Defiance, Ohio  43512.  The regular meeting on the first Thursday of each month shall be held in the Hicksville Municipal Building, start at 8:30 a.m., unless otherwise noted.  Commissioners also have scheduled a Study Session, when needed, on Wednesday beginning at 8:30 a.m.

 

The Commissioners met in General Session and approved and signed various resolutions, contracts and documents.  The Commissioners also reviewed the calendar of events and discussed upcoming meetings.

 

Sandy Schappert, Defiance County Child Support Enforcement Agency Director, met with the Commissioners for a quarterly update. Sandy stated the State has been scheduling video conferences and sending reports to CSEA's for the I-70 project; the idea of the project is to increase collections on current support orders statewide to 70%; at 70% this would increase the amount of incentives the State receives from the Federal government; Defiance County CSEA's is currently at 75.75% (based upon the Federal Fiscal Year). Defiance County CSEA has been reviewing and working the reports provided to the CSEA by the State to ensure that we are monitoring all our cases appropriately. During October to December 2012, there were 41 new orders established; 36 administrative reviews conducted; 84 court or administrative hearings held; 45 paternities established. There was $6,934,076.00 in collections for 2,835 cases in 2012, compared to $7,063,345.00 for 2,920 cases in 2011.

 

Warren Schlatter, Defiance County Engineer, met with the Commissioners for his weekly update. Warren stated that he recently provided the 2012 Bridge Inspection Report to the Board.

 

Isaac Lee, Defiance County Chamber, met with the Commissioners for an update. Isaac reviewed the status of the goals for the Chamber’s Strategic Plan.

 

The Commissioners Nicely attended the Board of Revisions reorganizational meeting.

 

Ron Cereghin, Defiance County Maintenance Director, met with the Commissioners for an update. Ron stated the following items were completed in the last quarter: installed new water heater in 911 building; sprayed lawns; striped Senior Center parking lot; serviced all boilers; poured approach at Fairgrounds building and striped parking spaces; installed mini split air conditioning system for Common Pleas Court; removed weeds and trees behind Senior Center fence; replaced 2 roofs on the Court House building; serviced the Landfill maintenance building heating system; put up Christmas decorations up and now have taken them down; built a frame to display the War of 1812 flag; built a frame for Recorder’s Office maps; repaired broken curbing at the Key Bank building; changed filters in all the air handler units; maintained fire extinguishers and exit lighting monthly; remodeled Record Center restroom; shampooed all of the sheriff's carpet; installed new siding to lower part of EMA building.

 

The Commissioners’ Office recently received 2012 statistics from the E-9-1-1 Center. In 2012 there were 12,981 calls received. Of these, 8,902 calls came from cell phones. In 1999 25% of the calls received were from cellular phones. In 2012, that was up to 68.6%. 2,606 calls were residential, and 1,162 calls were from businesses.

 

 

 Release Approved: ____________________________________________________  

                                                Otto L. Nicely, Defiance County Commissioner